Endoscopy waiting-list policy package
Combine capacity, demand management and flow improvements and see whether the cluster hits its target.
A cluster receives 300 new endoscopy referrals a week, performs 280, and holds a backlog of 2,400. The target is a median wait of 8 weeks. Each added weekly session gives 12 slots and costs SAR 18,000. Primary-care triage with FIT or calprotectin removes inappropriate referrals. Reducing no-shows frees slots without new sessions.
Linked module: Strategic planning for GI services
Effective referrals per week
300
Effective capacity per week
280
Weekly surplus
-20
Backlog at horizon
2,920
Average wait at horizon
10.4 weeks
Cost of extra sessions
SAR 0
The list is still growing
Demand exceeds capacity. A one-off clearance will not hold; add capacity or cut demand.
What to notice
- Add two sessions with no other change. The list stops growing and the average wait falls below target on paper, but the surplus is only 4 slots a week, so a small rise in referrals puts it back.
- Try 10% triage alone: it removes 30 referrals per week, a bigger change than two sessions at no session cost, but only works if primary care can deliver it.
- No lever is free. List what each one needs in staff, training and monitoring.